Reichstag Dome

This architectural wonder sits atop the German parliament called the Reichstag. If you want a history lesson, go to Wikipedia or pay for a tour like I did. I waited maybe an hour to get in the place. Security is rigid. You can look down on to the parliament while they are pretending to work. You can also walk up the spiral staircase to the top. You can also walk outside the dome on the roof. What I would give to be able to do that in DC or Sactown. Every time I compare Europe with the States, Europe seems to win. Do I think the US needs to change? In a lot of ways, yes. Do I wish we changed our security? No. We could use more choice as far as individuals wanting to run their businesses their way I am not going to denigrate our wonderful land because we over employ tons of busybodies. Europe has their share. I wonder what language they will all decide to speak? Esperanto? Latin?
I wonder what made the Germans put this dome on the old Reichstag? I guess it symbolizes the Reunification, I can't imagine how, but it must in some way. Maybe you know.

Today's Europe Picture

This is a live music venue in Amsterdam called Paradiso. It is located at Weteringschans 6-8. I saw Ben Ottewell play here. He is in Gomez. I was late for the show because I was having dinner with friends. I wish I wasn't late. I got in for free because I was late. I still saw at least half of his performance. I recorded it on my iRiver. It sounds OK. You can have a copy if you ask nice enough. You should see a concert here if you go to Amsterdam. Don't spend all of your time drinking Heineken, smoking the weed, and drooling over hookers. The town has so much more to offer. However if you are lonely, those other things sound real good.

I just watched The Departed

Vera

Lena

Yeah, I liked it.
Who was that chick in the movie?
Why was there only one?
There are a lot of good films, of course. But you have to find some way to fit babes into your film. 300 did it. The film was covered in shirtless Spartan soldiers. Not all that cool. The payoff was that the queen also got shirtless . She is a hottie. So was the girl from Departed. Let me give you their names.
Lena Heady played Queen Gorgo in 300
Vera Farmiga played Madolyn in The Departed.
They were both born in 1973, which means they are both the perfect age for me to date. How lucky I am.

Really, I can't believe that the Departed was the best movie last year. Was it? Really? It was good. Can Scorsese make a film that doesn't end in a bloodbath and get noticed?

By the way Casino sucked. Was he sleepwalking through Goodfellas dreams when he made that piece of crap?

Put more hot women in your films!

Guess who we got in The Gangs of New York. Cameron Diaz. That ugly leer jet hippie never should have got a start in film. Angelie Jolie has cold sores that out sexy Cammie.

Marty used Cate Blanchett in The Aviator. Why not just use a board and a wig to play Kate Hepburn?

Jodie Foster? There's a reason she attracts so many psychos. Don't forget Cybil Sheperd, wait I already have.

Any other fuglies he put in movies? That chick in Raging Bull, beat it. Lorraine Bracco. She was sexy for about 2 seconds. Winona Ryder, has anyone watched The Age of Innocence?

Well, if you can name any real babes besides Vera in Marty movies, give it a try.

One Bridge

These are two views of the same train station in East Berlin. I still call it that. I don't remember people trying not to call the East side of Berlin East Berlin. It isn't the official name any longer, but it was for a long time. And the two sides are still very distinct.

If you like blight, try east Berlin. I assume the rents are lower. My bed at the hostel was much cheaper than when I stayed on the West Side.

In the States, the East side of town is usually the better, or more expensive side of town. Scottsdale is on the east side of Phoenix. Fairport is on the east side of Rochester. I guess that goes to show how much Communism can really screw up the natural order of things.

The reason I took these pictures is I think the station is so remarkable. I didn't expect to see something like it on this side of town. Nothing else surely was up to par with this urban structure. Brick is never really given its due. Or maybe it isn't power washed so it can look it's best.

The only yellow train in Berlin also stopped at this station.

I am not engaging in any sort of brickophilia. I think I liked seeing the contrast. My time in Berlin was split between the either side of town. Where was there more fun to be had? The east side. What was cleaner and safer looking? The west side. Why do you care? Maybe you do not.

I don't know when this structure was built. Before or after the fall of the Wall. It would matter if I were a historian. (Then you would all see what I could do.) I don't know anything other than I like the way this looks.

It shows that you never know what you are going to get. When I got off the the train at Warshauser Strasse, I had never been so underwhelmed by a first look at a part of town in my whole life. West Berlin looked like a place I wouldn't mind spending time. It wasn't. East Berlin looked like a place that had nothing much to offer. It wasn't.

That is one reason why I like to amble when I travel. Agendas and plans are for politicians and businessmen. I am looking around to see what will surprise me next.

On the Dark Side

This is the Reeperbahn. Stay away from this place when in Hamburg. I took these photos on the bus tour. I made the mistake of going to look for a normal bar for just a drink. Never happened. What did happen was 100 hookers tried to convince me to pay them for sexual favors and 25 barkers tried to get me into their strip clubs. It didn't happen. It was annoying. This was my first night in town and I didn't know where to go. I swear. I bet there was some guy in town dying to find strippers and all he could find was a regular bar.

I didn't eat at the Pizza Hut. I didn't stay in Hamburg very long.

Click on the lower photo, you can see the street sign that says Reeperbahn.

First podcast about Europe is up!

I took this photo in Hannover, Germany. These are big balls.
I quit my job, closed my apartment, and took off to Europe and parts unknown with languages I cannot even begin to understand. I did it. So could you. Give life a try!
This latest Seano and Jefe Show is up! Seano asks me what I can remember about my trip.
Not a full boring travel log, but Seano questions me about things that I wrote in this blog that caught his interest.
It is my return to the states!
My return to podcasting!
Your return to the Seano and Jefe Show!

Jagermeister

This is the Jagermeister Headquarters. They make all of the pertinent decisions about how to produce Jagermeister. This is probably one of the most important places in the world. Many people rely on their product, pardon me, nectar, soma, no, plasma, that's the word, for their good times. Since you are reading my blog, you know what I mean. Others who need the importance explained to them, email me, I will hold your hand so you understand why the HUNTERMASTER is the premiere beverage in the land.
A few facts for you not in the know. (These may have been in an earlier post)

1. They only make Jager now. OK they make one other liquor. I am not telling the name and it only constitutes about .01% of the company's production. The other 99.99% is Jager.
2. They don't make alcohol. True fact. The fine folks at Jagermeister only flavor a combination of ethanol and water to create this liquid manna.
3. This black gold is aged. Jager is aged as are fine wines and whiskeys. The factory even employs coopers to make sure the casks are properly maintained. These casks are as big a a bedroom.
4. The employees there never complain. They get to drink Jager on their coffee breaks. I saw them. They also have a private chef when they are working. Professionals are provided on Fridays for anyone who wants oral sex. I am assuming the last one, bit I feel it is a logical conclusion.
5. There is no deer blood in Jagermeister. However, they are rather protective over their secret ingredient. They wished to change the label for sale in the U.S. The FDA(Federal Dickhead Authority) said they must divulge all ingredients in order to do so. "Hey why don't we give away our secret so our business can be ruined and out town can go broke. Great idea!" Stay tuned for another installment of 'Stupid Things Which Bureaucracies Expect People to Comply.' Don't expect to see a different Jager label in the States ever.
6. You can't buy their stock. Jagermeister is a privately held company. They have 3 primary shareholders. They don't work for the company directly. If they are smart, they never will. The people they pay will always have the incentive of needing money more than the.
7. The tour was free and they give you stuff. I received a small bottle of Jager, a Jager bag, pen, hat, and key chain. All will be used in loving memory.

This is how you should always serve Jagermeister. It is easy to remember. The label tells you Serve Cold-Keep On Ice. One commandment isn't hard to follow. In this case, the Jager was kept in a freezer and served in a glass from the freezer. More than OK. As long as it is cold. If it is not cold, employ other tactics.

The quickest way to chill Jagermeister is an ice bath.

1. Fill a basin with water and ice.
2. Deposit bottle of Jager.
3. 30 minutes later, you gots cold Jager
4. Enjoy responsibly.
5. Forget number 4
6. Mix with Red Bull for girls.
7. Mix with anything else over ice, if you don't want shots.
8. Just drink Jager.

The Station

This is the main railway station in Zurich, Switzerland. You cannot be in Zurich without coming to this place sooner or later. I would be curious to know which person who lives or has been in Zurich and has never been there.

This is the center of all activity in the city.

Really, this photo only shows the main hall. All the trains are at the far end or down below.

This place also boast a shopping arcade, casual and fine dining, and shower facilities. All come in handy for the traveller.

The Zurich denizens also seem to know their trains by heart. Nina (ex-girlfrined, Zurich resident) knew exactly where she had to go to catch a train and at what time. I was constantly scouring the schedule to make sure I wasn't late or that I tool the fastest train. How do you spot an out of towner in Zurich? They have looked at the train schedule for more than 20 seconds.

The hall you see is used for all types of community activities. In the winter I don't think it gets much use. Last April, when I was there, it hosted: a farmers market, a volleyball tournament, and a concert by Tokio Hotel.

Zurich has many other great things besides a good train station. More about that later. Don't go thinking that I wish I was there or that I think it is better than the United States. It's good, just different.

Bikes

The Dutch love their bicycles.
The first photo is the bike parking area near the Tilburg main station. I didn't see this many people while I was there. yet here are there bikes. I think they have extras just in case. It may be a crime in the Netherlands to go without one.
They are a tall and healthy people. They have a small country. Where would they put them all if these bikes were cars? They wouldn't need to drop them off at the train station. Maybe they have cars but don't drive them because they have no where to leave them when they take the train? We don't bother with that here in the states, we just don't take the train.

The second photo is plainly a stoplight. The interesting part is that it has separate signals for bikes and cars, something I hadn't seen prior to this trip to Amsterdam. I am not even sure that this light is even meant for cars at all. Reinforcing my belief that the Dutch are obsessed with bikes.
Travel tip: Don't you dare get caught walking in the bike lane. You will be hit or harassed. My discovery of this was in Tilburg. I was wandering about the main commercial/entertainment area of town. The bike lane is not in the road like in the U.S. or many other cities in Europe. While trying to find my way around the place, I heard a ringing from behind me. I was non-verbally being told to get the hell out of the way. I am glad I learned this in a smaller town than Amsterdam.
Popular chatter tells us that we will all be safer without these cars we hold so dear. I am far from believing that to be true.
I am no pro-auto lobbyist. I really don't like driving, but it isn't a bad necessity.
I ride my bike for exercise far from busy streets.
I am not sure I want to move to a European style of public transport. Riding ones bike in the rain holds no appeal.
More damage is done by a bus or a tram a lot than by a car. Cars stop faster.
Of course, one can spend a lot of money very quickly on gasoline.
One more of life's trade-offs we need contemplate.


At no time in writing this piece about the Dutch did I obviously rhyme bikes with the word that describes a wall built to protect human occupied lands from encroaching bodies of water.

Beer Bottles

Beer is probably the most important contribution the Europeans have made to the world.
I defy anyone to one up me there.
Don't try you can't.
Heineken was hardly the best beer I had over there. It wasn't even the best tour I went on. Although, it was the tour that involved the most beer. I didn't try to take any tours of any other breweries. Thinking about that now, what a huge mistake!
When I spent day after day in Berlin, not knowing what to do, did it cross my mind to go see a brewery? No!
Make that a lesson to yourselves people. But then again, you can't do it all. I guess going to as many breweries as museums can get just as mundane. But the Heineken Experience didn't even show them actually making beer. It was mainly a marketing ploy that you paid to see. How's that for reverse psychology?
Not that there weren't good things to see there. Like all of theses beer bottles. they are really hooked on the color green. These are two of my favorite pictures from the tour.
1. They do not include any examples of Heineken trying to sell me beer after I have already paid to be in, well near the factory.
2. Any overabundance of any consumer product concentrated in one place is always good for pop art. Thanks Warhol.
3. It reminds me, that I was in that place by myself and no one came over and said hello or tried to drink with me. You selfish fucks. If someone is alone, it can only be obvious that they are alone. Thanks for nothing. Now I know why so few people have chosen to travel alone like I did. I had to ask a tour worker to take that first photo.

Back in the States

I have not updated in a while.

One thing you want to do after travelling for two months straight is nothing.

I did go to Vienna and did a quick tour of the city. It was a nice clean place. People were pleasant enough just like they were in all other places I went. The city is impressive as was the Schonbrunn Palace.

That palace showcased the opulence of the Hapsburgs, the last royal family of Austria-Hungary. The Austrians claim them still, the Hungarians do not. Few conquered peoples celebrate their former foreign heads of state, no matter how illustrious.

I want to compare the Swiss and the Austrians. I am not qualified. They may have their similarities, but I haven't been exposed to enough Austrians to be accurate. I may harbor a little bitterness towards the former.

But what can one do? Love dies and grows again. Most experiences need to be seen as a positive sooner or later. If you choose to do the opposite, life will be one bitter pill taken over and over, soon with less frequency because you aren't trying at all anymore.

I am glad I tried without worrying too much about whether or not success was guaranteed. I am a better person for doing so. I have seen more of the world than I ever thought I would, but maybe not as much as I want.

One thing I feel after every break up is that I wanted to do more. This could have been said easily about other women I have dated as about Nina. It was just more true about Nina. Yeah, it wasn't meant to be. That is also something you get sick of telling yourself. Try not believing that something isn't wrong. That is something that you just don't think about for long.

Enough of that. On to something else.


More blogs coming with photos from the trip.


Currently listening :
The Boatman's Call
By Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Release date: By 04 March, 1997